A special CBI court in Panchkula (Haryana) on October 18 handed a life term to actor-producer-director and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others for the murder of his estranged manager, Ranjit Singh, more than 19 years ago. The self-proclaimed Godman, who was convicted along with the co-accused on October 8, is already serving 20 years in jail since 2017 for the rape of two sadhvis and life imprisonment for the 2002 murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati.
The court also slapped a fine of Rs. 31 lakh on Gurmeet. Fifty per cent of this amount, as also of the fines slapped on the other convicted persons, will be given to the victim’s family.
Ranjit Singh had apparently fallen out with Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh after rape allegations against the latter surfaced. He was shot dead in Khanpur Kolian village of Kurukshetra on July 10, 2002.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is facing trial in one more case involving castration of many of the cult’s followers in Sirsa.